Guilin:
The sweet smell of osmanthus trees fills the air and flowers flourish everywhere but nice as Guilin appears, it functions primarily as a gateway to the surrounding scenery. Tourists pour into this southern city and following on their heels are clever opportunists who seem to hype every possible angle; Sell you a room? Sell you a tour? Sell you a meal?...and so on.
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Located in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and bordering Yunnan Province to the west, Hunan Province to the northeast and Vietnam to the south, Guilin's central location and nearby scenery makes it one of China's most-visited regions. And so, the tourists - and those who profit from them - are in ample supply here.
But all is forgiven the moment you begin to explore that scenery. Most noticeable are the giant, apartment building-size "karsts," or limestone outcroppings, which punctuate the views like a skyline. Geological uplifting has brought ancient seabeds (composed of alkaline limestone - remants of fossilized sea life) to the surface. Rain (acidic, in nature) has washed down and worn away much of the limestone, leaving an almost surreal landscape in its place - a special region very much revered and cherished by the Chinese.
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Below ground, the effect is no less surreal. Over the centuries, percolating ground water has carved underground caves and caverns and formed waterfalls and streams. Sinkholes are yet another naturally-occuring feature of the region - one that's understandably worrisome to many local residents. Taken together - the karsts and the caverns - the effect amounts to some of earth's most un-earthly scenery.
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Guilin's nearby attractions include:
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- Karsts: Scientists have no trouble explaining the origination of these strange-looking limestone cones and cylinders, or the equally-bizarre below-ground cave and cavern counterparts. But their beauty is no less impressive. For centuries Chinese poets and artists have depicted the sometimes eerie, mist-shrouded karsts.
- Li River Cruise: The best way to view the variety of karsts (they come in all sizes of cones, cylinders, mounds and crags!) is by a cruise along the Li River. One karst is called "Elephant Trunk Hill," resembling a giant elephant whose bent trunk dips into the water for a drink. Another is called "Dragon Head Hill," and yet another is named "Five Fingers Hill." A number of karsts soar hundreds of feet - straight up - from the riverbank. Some tours - including yours - end in Yangshou, about 50 miles downstream from Guilin. It's quite a journey!
- Longji Titian: As noted in our tour description, "The climate here is perfect for rice-growing; the terrain isn't." That didn't stop the local farmers; over some 700 years of toil and sweat, they transformed the hills and mountains into terraced, intensely-cultivated rice fields. What they created was also breathtaking - a rare meeting of function and scenic interest. The high hills of Longji Titian ("Dragon Backbone Terraces") are located about 60 miles northwest from Guilin.
- Ping An: Nestled within the heart of the Longi Titian is the ethnic Zhuang village of Ping An. Charming as it may look with it's somewhat jumbled, terraced homes (everything is "terraced" in this hilly region!), Ping An is a hard-working community. For the idle visitor, however, the photo-ops are not to be missed!
Featured Hotel: Essential China Series & Adventure Series: (subject to change)
- Guilin Lijiang Waterfall Hotel
No. 1 North Shanhu Road
Guilin 541001, China
Tel: (86) (773) 2822 881
Fax: (86) (773) 2822 891
5-Star - 2,646 rooms
It just doesn't get more convenient than this! Located directly across from the Lijiang River and Shanhu Lake and rising above a popular shopping district, the Guilin Lijiang Waterfall Hotel is perfectly situated for tourists. And yes, a waterfall actually cascades 140 feet from the hotel's roof into a glittering pool!
For a link to the Guilin Lijiang Waterfall Hotel site click here.
Featured Hotel: Luxury China Series: (subject to change)
- Guilin Sheraton Hotel
No. 15 Bin Jiang Road
Guilin, 541001 China
Tel: (86) (773) 282 5588
Fax: (86) (773) 282 5598
5-Star - 430 rooms
Situated on the beautiful Li River, the Guilin Sheraton presents a convenient, in-town location. All rooms feature Sheraton's "Sweet Sleeper" beds, Internet access, flat-panel TVs, in-room safes, refrigerators, and mini-bars. The hotel offers a Business Center, a complete Fitness Center, Message/Sauna and an Outdoor Swimming Pool. Three restaurants are provided, including the excellent Cathay Chinese Restaurant. The Night Markets and a shopping plaza are within a few minutes' walk of the hotel.
For a link to the Sheraton Guilin Hotel site click here.
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Guilin is featured
on the following tours:
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A
work in progress: |
...Did
you know?
Almost
200,000 years ago, all of what is now Guilin was underwater. Part
of an ancient seabed, its sea floor became thick with the shell
remains of ancient sea creatures. Over time, these remnants formed
into limestone. Then, as tectonic forces from massive, moving plates
of earth’s mantle slowly pushed in from the south (building
the Himalayas in the process), the seabed began to uplift, eventually
rising hundreds of feet in the air. The erosive forces of rain,
wind, and water began carving into the exposed limestone, forming
the bizarre, still-changing landscapes we see today. |
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"The
name Guilin may not have a familiar ring to many Westerners, but
among Chinese this city in the southern China province of Guangxi
is legendary for its beauty. The limestone cliffs that surround
the city and line the Li River have provided backdrops for countless
Chinese paintings. Long a favorite destination for domestic tourists,
the city has more recently become a stop on the global backpacker
circuit. And now some first-class Western-style hotels are attracting
a higher-paying clientele from beyond China."
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-Daniel Altman,
New York Times –
Travel, February 26, 2006 |
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